Former NFL star Jimmy Wilkerson, who primarily played for the Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints, has died at age 43.
The cause of Wilkerson’s death was not provided, with The Oklahoman reporting it was a heart attack. He played defensive end for nine years in the NFL.
Wilkerson last played in the NFL in 2011 for the Seattle Seahawks and began college coaching in 2017 at East Texas A&M.
The Saints announced his passing on Dec. 13 earlier this month, honoring the player who only spent one year in New Orleans.
“He was a great teammate,” former Saints linebacker Scott Shanle (2006-2012) said in a press release. “He fit perfectly into our locker room. He was only here a year, but we were talking about it in our group chat and everyone remembered Jimmy. He was just a serious guy.
His only season in New Orleans, 2010, was the year after the team won the Super Bowl over a Colts team led by Peyton Manning.
Former NFL star Jimmy Wilkerson, who played for the Chiefs, has died at age 43.
Wilkerson last played in the NFL in 2011 for the Seahawks and began college coaching in 2017.
Wilkerson was a high school football star in Texas before playing at Oklahoma. He was drafted in the sixth round by the Chiefs in 2003.
Between his stints with Kansas City and New Orleans, Wilkerson spent two years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Wilkerson played in 119 career NFL games, with 21 starts and 14 sacks.
Wilkerson was a high school football coach in Oklahoma at the time of his death.
“On Friday morning, a few hours before the Titans had their final practice and walkthrough before Saturday’s title game, Jimmy was home when 911 was called. When paramedics arrived, he had no pulse,” according to The Oklahoman.